Raiders deal WR Edwards to Falcons in trade

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders have traded large receiver Bryan Edwards and a seventh-round decide within the 2023 draft to the Atlanta Falcons for his or her fifth-round choice subsequent yr, the groups introduced Friday.

Edwards, 23, has 45 catches for 764 yards and 4 touchdowns in 28 profession video games (15 begins) since being chosen by the Raiders within the third spherical of the 2020 NFL draft.

Las Vegas, underneath the course of latest common supervisor Dave Ziegler and new coach Josh McDaniels, noticed Edwards as expendable after buying two-time All-Professional wideout Davante Adams in March to hitch Professional Bowler Hunter Renfrow. The staff additionally signed Mack Hollins, Demarcus Robinson and Keelan Cole in free company as a part of the overhaul of the large receiver room.

Cole on Thursday signed a one-year, $1.2675 million cope with Las Vegas that included a $150,000 signing bonus, a supply advised ESPN’s Subject Yates.

With the departure of Edwards, the Raiders now have simply two of their seven picks from the 2020 draft nonetheless on the roster: offensive lineman John Simpson, a fourth-round decide who began all 17 video games at left guard final season, and cornerback Amik Robertson, who was taken 30 picks after Simpson and has began two of 18 profession video games.

First-rounders Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette had been each minimize. Lynn Bowden, who was taken one spot after Edwards, was traded earlier than taking part in in a regular-season recreation, and Tanner Muse, drafted 19 picks after Bowden, spent his rookie season on injured reserve and was launched earlier than taking part in a recreation.

The Falcons, in the meantime, wanted so as to add to their receiving depth after drafting Drake London with the No. 8 decide final month. Edwards might find yourself being No. 2 on the depth chart, as Auden Tate and Olamide Zaccheaus are their most skilled receivers.

Atlanta, previously two years, traded Julio Jones to Tennessee, had Calvin Ridley suspended indefinitely for playing and misplaced Russell Gage in free company to Tampa Bay.

The Falcons even have one of many tallest group of pass-catchers within the NFL. Tight finish Kyle Pitts is 6-foot-6, London is 6-5, working again Cordarrelle Patterson is 6-2, Tate is 6-5, and Edwards is 6-3.

ESPN’s Michael Rothstein contributed to this report.